Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III named to Maxwell Award watch list

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III on Monday was one of 85 college football players named to the Maxwell Award watch list. Hendon Hooker finished runner-up for the award a year ago alongside Ohio State quarterback CJ Stround, both finishing behind USC’s Caleb Williams.

The award is given annually to the best all-around player in the sport, based on voting from a panel of sportscasters, sportswriter and NCAA head coaches and members of the Maxwell Football Club. 

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 13 and three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 28. The winner of the 87th Maxwell Award will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 7. 

The formal presentation of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2024.

Milton takes over this season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback in Josh Heupel’s uptempo offense. The Vols led college football in scoring last season at 46.1 points per game.

‘Extremely confident’ Joe Milton III ready for his opportunity as Vols’ starting QB

“I’m extremely, extremely confident,” Milton said while meeting with reporters at SEC Media Days in Nashville. “I trust the guys around me. I trust my coaches to go through the preparation with me confidently. I’m extremely confident, and I’m ready for it.”

Last season Milton passed for 971 yards and 10 touchdowns, completing 65 percent of his passes over nine games. But his opportunities were mainly limited to mop-up duty behind Hooker, before Hooker was lost to a torn ACL in November. 

He started in Tennessee’s 56-0 win in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt a week after Hooker’s season-ending injury, throwing for 147 yards and a touchdown while the Vols rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns as a team.

He would go on to lead Tennessee to a 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium a little over a week later. He was named the game’s MVP after throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

“I’m just ready to show off my game, period,” Milton said. “It means a lot to me to show off to myself. I mean, nothing else matters. Once you make yourself happy, I feel like you’ll be good to go.”

Milton is ready to show himself off in part because of his relationship with Hooker, his former roommate and close friend. Hooker helped Milton prepare for the Orange Bowl after having surgery on his torn ACL in December in California.

Hendon Hooker’s two seasons at Tennessee: 7,126 total yards, 68 touchdowns

Hooker and Milton competed for the starting job in training camp before the 2021 season, with Milton ultimately being named Tennessee’s starter. He suffered an ankle injury in the second half of a Week 2 loss to Pitt at Neyland Stadium, with Hooker taking over and never letting go of the job over the next 24 games, totaling 7,126 total yards and 68 touchdowns.

“I wouldn’t say it was under the wing because we was going head-to-head,” Milton said of Hooker’s leadership. “It was a 1-2 punch no matter what. If he needed anything, I was there. If he came to the sideline about a play or coverage, I was there no matter what. It can be anything. I can be anybody. I was there to help first.

“I feel like that’s one thing that he led, contributed as a teammate and as a big brother. It was great.”

Milton said one thing he learned from Hooker is how to be a pro. 

“I feel like that’s the main thing I could take from Hendon,” Milton said … “Obviously he’s older than me. I never had no one that actually treated me like I would say a little brother. You know? I never had nobody treat me like a little brother, and that’s what he did.”